Road-cart



(No Model.)

B. W. BEAM.

ROAD CART.

'No. 405,299. Patented June 18, 1889.

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N. PEYERS. Fimlmlflhugrapher. Wuhillgtun. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ELIAS IV. BEAM, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN.

ROAD-CART.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1\I0. 405,299, dated. June18, 1889. Application filed December 8, 1888. SerialNo. 292,980. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELIAS W. BEAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Plymouth, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Road-Carts, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in road-carts; andthe invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement ofthe parts constituting the seat-support, whereby an easy-riding cart isobtained, combined with great strength, and, further, in the meanswhereby the tension of the spring-supports of the seat may be adjustedto suit riders of different weights, all as more fully hereinafterdescribed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 isa vertical central longitudinal section of a road-cart provided with myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on line so as in Fig. 1,looking toward the rear; Fig. 3, a detached elevation of the spring-bar;Fig. 4, a section plan of oneof the brackets which adjustably supportsthe said springs from the shafts.

B is the axle, C the shafts, D the cross-bar, E the seat, and F thecurved seat-bars, of a road-cart, such parts being of knownconstruction, and forming no part of my invention.

G is a spring-bar, preferably made of spring metal in the form of around bar thicker in the center and tapering toward the ends, with anupset or shoulder a near the outer ends, and terminating inscrew-threaded studs or pins b. This spring-bar is clipped in the centerto the under side of the cross-bar, preferably some distance below it,bymeans of the bearing-block H and the clips I I. The outer ends of thisspring-bar then extend in proximity to the shafts, and the seat-bars F Fhave their forward ends upon the ends of the springbars, suitable eyesbeing formed on the springbars for that purpose to form a pivotalconnection. By means of suitable nuts 0, or otherwise, the seat-bars areadj ustably secured to the spring-bars.

J are seat-supporting springs adjustably suspended from the shafts bymeans of the notched plates or brackets K, secured to the inside of theshaft and provided with the adjusting-notches L, with either one ofwhich the upper end of the spring may be engaged. The lower ends of thesprings J are secured to the ends of a tension-rod L, preferably byforming hooked ends d on the ends of the tension-rod. This tension-rod Lpasses below the seat-bars and engages adjustably into notched plates orbrackets M, which are secured to the under side of the seat-bars, andthe notches of which are adapted to hold the tension-rod L detachablyand adjustably in position.

A suitable foot-rest is constructed by means of bars N, secured directlyto the seat-bars,

which are suitably curved to form a curb, and horizontal truss-rods Oare secured to strengthen the seat-bars by forming a truss in the bightof the seat-bars.

It will be seen that by adjusting the upper ends of the springs Jbackward or forward upon the plates K, or engaging the tensionbar L withanother notch of the plate M, the leverage of the springs on theseat-bars may be changed, and thereby the tension of the springs made tosuit the different weights upon the seats and adapt the cart to be aseasily adjusted for one or two persons upon the seat.

It will be noticed that the spring-bar G is calculated by its form toplay as well in the horizontal direction as in a vertical direction orany other direction, whereby the thrust in starting, stopping, or in anyalteration in the gait of the horse is readily cushioned, and therebymakes the riding easy under all circumstancesa result which is notaccomplished by the use of the ordinary flat springs, which are onlycalculated to ease the vertical motion, having no effect in any otherdirection.

I preferably arrange the notches in one of adjusting-plates K or M,preferably the latter plate, in a different horizontal plane-as, forinstance, shown in Fig. 1 in the drawings, where the notch e is madedeeper than the notch f. Thus by changing the tension of the bar L andthe notch e the seat is lowered.

This allows a change in the height of the seat, which in long drivesallows the rider to change his position, and thereby effect a gratefulchange from a higher position to a lower position, or vice versa. It isobvious that the notches in the upper plate may be arranged in a similarmanner to accomplish this object by providing the tension-bar L with thecrank (Z upon their outer ends. All liability of disengagement of thetension'bar L from the notches in the plate is avoided, as an easy hingeis thereby formed, which allows the tension-bar to rock in its bearings,and thereby compensate in horizontal direction.

Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a road cart, the combination, withthe shafts, cross-bar, and seat-bars, of a round spring-bar centrallysecured to the cross-bar and supporting with its free ends the front endof the seat-bars, and tapered from its middle toward its ends,substantially as de scribed.

2. The combination, with the shafts and cross-bar of a road-cart, of theround springbar G, the bearing-block II, and clips I I, for securing itto the cross-bar, and the seat-bars provided with eyes upon theirforward ends pivotally engaged with the free ends of the spring-bar,substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the shafts, crossbar, and seat-bars of aroad-cart, substantially as described, of the spring-bar G, supportingthe free ends of the seat-bars, said spring-bar being centrally securedbelow the cross-bar and tapering from its middle toward the ends andprovided with the upsets a and pivot pins or lugs b, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a road-cart, the combination, with the shafts and seat-barspivotallysecured at their forward ends, of the supporting-springssuspended from the shafts, the notched plates M, secured to the underside of the seat-bars, and the tension-rod L, adj ustably engaging withthese plates and having their free ends connected to thesupporting-springs, substantially as described.

5. In a road-cart, the combination, with the shafts and seat-barspivotally secured at their forward ends, of the springs J, suspendedfrom the shafts, the plates M, secured to the under side of theseat-bars and provided with two or more notches of different height, andthe tension-rod L, adjustably engaging into the notches of these plates,substantially as described.

G. In a road-cart, the combination of the shafts C, the cross-bar D, thespring-bar (-r, centrally secured below the cross-bar, the seatbars F,pivotally secured to the spring-bar, the springs J, suspended from theshafts, the notched plates K, upon which the upper end of the spring isadjustably engaged, the tension-rod L, and the notched plates M, securedto the seat-bars and adjustably engaging the tension-rod, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatui e, in presence of twowitnesses, this 7th day of June, 1888.

ELIAS W. BEAM.

VVitn esses:

J. IAUL MAYER, N. 1). SMITH.

